Rainwater harvesting

Climate change is disrupting the world’s rainfall patterns, meaning some parts of the developing world are suffering from a drastic drop leading to a fall in water levels in many reservoirs and rivers.

In sub-Saharan Africa, 90% of agriculture is rain-fed, making it even more vulnerable to changing weather patterns.

The solution proposed by Kabuyonjo is harvesting rainwater as it falls and retaining it in the soil or in tanks below ground so it can be later used as a source of clean water.

Rainwater for irrigation

By constructing ridges of soil along the contours of fields, rainfall is held back from running off the hard-baked soils too quickly, so that crops have enough water to grow. Even when rainfall levels are low, families can harvest enough food.

Precious rainwater can also be captured and stored in tanks so that even on the driest of days, there will always be a water source for the important irrigation of crops.

Facilities installed have included both above and below ground rainwater catchment tanks, with the water collected from roofs of buildings, dams and channels for irrigation purposes, and improvement of ponds used for storing water.

Rainwater for drinking

The villagers themselves have usually expressed a clear need for improving water collection and storage provision. The water facilities are usually largely built by the villagers themselves with some assistance from trained masons or builders. People consider obtaining improved access to water well worth the building effort.

Improving hygiene and sanitation behaviour

People living in poverty stricken areas suffer poor environmental health due to unsafe drinking water. They also have poor hygiene behaviour and lack of sanitation due to rapid and haphazard urbanisation leading to crowded and unhygienic settlements. Countries suffer massive financial losses through health expenses on diseases that could be prevented very easily.

The vulnerable population, especially women and children, are being targeted by Kabuyonjo to improve their health and wellbeing. Specifically, the focus is on improving access to safe drinking water and guaranteeing access to better sanitation facilities. Additionally, the dissemination of better hand washing practices and other hygiene behaviours leads to a reduction in water-borne diseases and ultimately a reduction in health costs.